Reviews

Venus in Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch

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hansolodiedformysins's review

3.0

It took me a while to finish what is a very short book. It's an interesting concept though not the most entertaining and its reputation and history seem to be more fascinating than its contents. While I enjoyed it, Severin's need to be a slave isn't explored from a psychological framework, its more about how his obsession drives the object of his affections away from him, which itself is intriguing though its execution is poor. The plot is minimal and Wanda's dalliance with another man is teased, stated, taken away and then reinforced within the space of about twenty pages.
Severin as a character is quite interesting as he's both a romantic hero and angry tyrant, hellbent on getting what he wants. Both characters have no regard to the consent of one another and I wish the book explored more about what that says about them. Having said that, the idea of a man and woman with conflicting needs trying to make the other person be what they want is unending reality of life and getting a glimpse of that from a different time was certainly an experience which was made even more interesting from a kink perspective and characters that are consuming by their kinks will always be a source of intrigue. I'm glad I read it and may read it again but I finished it more to get it out of the way.

tigersmom's review against another edition

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dark funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

argus_adonis's review

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

ramramyum's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

adamantane's review

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Men’s fantasies of rationalism (and what a “rational” woman is) will never cease being exhausting, will they?

spectracommunist's review

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5.0

"Man even when he is selfish or evil always follows principles, woman never follows anything but impulses. Don't ever forget that, and never feel secure with the woman you love.”

The original masochism and what powerful! This was so cathartic: it's funny, seducing, shaming as well as touching. I was moved by Severin's condition as a man I felt completely in his shoes but on the other side, I'm already praising Wanda von Dunajew, to her pagan seduction and her whimsical power. Call her evil or villainish but she's my literary heroine.

It eloquently explores the so-called "battle of the sexes" and has a remarkable journey and a definitive moral to it. After all, it is devilishly sexy and it makes bondage and masochism quite a remarkable experience.

I didn't know that a bondage erotica would be quite an erudite seduction.